My new X5sd, first pictures and impressions

[bagu]

Hi All,

I received my new X5 about 4 weeks ago and didn't have time to post pictures yet. Had to wait for some sun and needed to clean the her first . I like the car a lot, have about 5000km on the counter and so far no major issue. Here the specification:

BMW X5 3.0sd
475 Saphirschwarz
LUSW Leder Nevada Schwarz
220 Niveauregeling van de achteras
2PA Anti−diefstal bouten
302 Alarmsysteem
413 Scheidingsnet
423 Fluwelen tapijten
431 Automatisch dimmende binnenspiegel
441 Rokerspakket
459 Zetels, elektrisch + geheugen
502 Hogedrukreiniging koplampen
521 Regen− en lichtsensor
522 Xenonlichten
534 Elektronisch gestuurde airconditioning
544 Cruise Control met remfunctie
563 Lichtpakket
235 Aanhangwagenkoppeling
320 Zonder monogram
322 Comforttoegang
330 Sportpakket
226 Sportophanging
255 Sportstuur
2RZ Alu velgen styling 213 19"
481 Sportzetels vooraan
760 Shadowline hoogglans
775 Hemelbekleding Anthrazit
386 Dakrails
4AD Decoratieve lijsten in geborsteld Aluminium
644 GSM−voorbereiding (Bluetooth)
676 HiFi−luidsprekersysteem
6FL USB−aansluiting
761 Zonnewerende ramen achter
868 Spraakversie Nederlands
493 Opbergpakket
494 Verwarmde zetels vooraan
508 Park Distance Control
609 Navigatiesysteem Professional
672 CD−wisselaar (6 selecties)
ZKS Veiligheidskit

Had a first disappointment, I was proud to do my first towing job, but didn't know that a small adapter was needed to convert the factory mounted plug towards a European plug. When ordering this type of car this 20€ plug should be donated, or at least told that it is needed...



On the other hand, I have an option listed above that was due to a "problem" not delivered on the car. The tainted window option has not been installed for some reason and on this one I need you guy's help.

The dealer proposed to perform a post install with blackening foil, or with a special spray, or order new factory windows and replace them all. What would you do?
- the foil is easy installed, and not that expensive, but I feel there are always bubbles and the little treads of the window heater shows really visible...
- the spray is of better quality, normally no bubbles but same thing with the treads of the heater since sprayed on the inside
- of course the new windows would be as ordered, but this is an expensive choice for the dealer

Anybody an idea on this or some experience with window tinting?

And for the rest, superb car, manages really well. Glad I got the sports suspension. Torque is nice when pulling away form 0 at the red lights.
I also had the chance to test the X5 on a off road tract and was astonished by the capabilities and for the bigger part of the ground clearance.

Thanks,

Bagu

Here the rest of the pics:

[mellow_sparky]

Congrats on the car - did you have the hitch put on after you took the photos? I'd love to see some shots of the hitch installation.

As for the windows - that's a real bummer. Privacy tinting is a must have for me and I would have been really unhappy if my dealer missed it. I probably wouldn't have taken delivery of the car and made them re-order. In your case, you'll probably just want to have tinting put on rather than replace all the windows in the car.

[bimmer_buachaill]

Nice post, thanks for the photos.

Looks like you got the de-badge option? (I don't speak German but have driven the Nurburgring which qualifiies me for citizenship, right ?)

What do you think of the sound of the engine at idle, mid and high revs?

You have no hitch in most of the photos so looks like you added it after you picked the car up? Did you wire in a brake controller or was one already installed? (Or are you using surge brakes?) Did the dealer do the work?

What was your previous tow vehicle? Interested in how the diesel does while towing - both pulling & engine braking. Someone mentioned on another thread that the diesel didn't provide much engine braking but I suspect the car was just staying in a high gear (in D mode).

By the way, I'm surprised that you tie the car down by the wheels. From what I've heard, you only want to do this when there is no suspension on your trailer - almost all have suspensions these days. I tow my track car by locking into the jack points securely which pulls the car down on its suspension and allows the trailer to take the bumps. This is how BMW ships cars from the factory. Not sure if the Porsche has a similar option.
http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/trai...k-set-of-4.htm

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by bimmer_buachaill

You have no hitch in most of the photos so looks like you added it after you picked the car up?

The european hitch option is an invisible installation with a removeable swan-neck hitch which gets stored in the trunk when not in use.

[bagu]

Thanks for the reply's. The hitch is factory installed but is the removable one. So on the pictures of the car the hitch is stored in the compartiment inside the trunk. When I need it, I just click it in and turn the electrical outlet downwards (plug in the convertor ;-) and she's ready to use.

@ mellow_sparky

Tinting was on delivery note, and I also paid it... When I took delivery the car was inside and I didn't really notice it was missing. I'm waiting for the dealers feedback to see how they want to solve this.

@ bimmer_buachaill

Yes, debadge option, is a must for me. I'm Belgian, so it's francorchamps and zolder as circuits :-)

The sound is just ok on low and medium, high is nice. But I would like to have a more mature sound, perhaps I will change the exaust to have difference.

When towing I use the engine braking (via cruise control) and it works fine. When on 130km/h and pushing down to 100km/h you can feel the car 'braking" and slowing down. Only tried this on flat roads.
Pulling is great, more than enough torque.

The pictures of the Porsche where taken at delivery. They get shipped from Porsche with these. The car almost doesn't move on its suspension, it's quite hard ;-) Only problem is getting it up the trailer, we have to unistall the full front spoiler, car is way to low to tow it up. I will try to take some pictures next week, we are running in Belgian GT and have a race in Dijon France coming up. I'll take pictures with hitch in detail.

[HaroldC]

Nice!!! Welcome!

How about some more pics of the 997 cup car? Please?

[alexmish]

Demand replacing of all windows. It is not a big deal, maybe a day of work for them, but tint/film will not last as long, and can be scratched.

[JCL]

Looks good.

I agree with alexmish, aftermarket tinting is a distant second choice to factory tint. The problem is that changing them is relatively easy for the movable windows, but a lot of work for the fixed portions of the glass. I would go with an aftermarket tint, and inspect it carefully when picking it up.

I understand the European hitch option, but what did you do for trailer brakes? Are they surge brakes (automatic) or are they electrically activated, with a trailer brake controller?

It was me who raised the point about diesels not having as much engine retardation as gasoline engines for towing, but with the E70 vehicle weight and associated mechanical friction it sounds like that is not an issue. Good to hear. I don't think that using the cruise control is a test of diesel engine braking, however, as I believe that the cruise control on the E70 uses the wheel brakes for slowing down.

[NC_]

Nothing can substitute the factory tinted windows. Any aftermarket soultion will have problems in a few years. You paid for it - they should provide it.

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by JCL

I agree with alexmish, aftermarket tinting is a distant second choice to factory tint. The problem is that changing them is relatively easy for the movable windows, but a lot of work for the fixed portions of the glass. I would go with an aftermarket tint, and inspect it carefully when picking it up.

Huh? So is factory tint better or is aftermarket tint better?

Here in the US, I'm thinking of going with the aftermarket tint made by Huper Optiks. My tint guy tells me that it really makes a difference in heat reduction compared to other tint brands (unknown how it is vs factory tint).

Read on some threads that people are doing this over the factory tint.

Any suggestions/comments?